Gordon Brown disappeared to India last week as it was revealed inflation is running at a 15-year high. But with many families being hit hard, David Smith says the chancellor can run but he cant hide

Chris Proud and his wife Lorraine should be sitting pretty. The 41-year-olds have a combined income of more than £100,000. He is an accountant and she is a chef who runs her own business catering for executive events and weddings.

They live in an £800,000 detached four-bedroom home in West Sussex with their son William, 12, and nine-year-old daughter Emily. Like many other families, however, they are feeling the squeeze. Their cost of living is rising sharply and they are having to cut back.

“Both our children go to private school and the fees have risen above inflation for the past 10 years,” said Chris. Rising gas and electricity bills, the January hike in train fares, higher council tax and increases in other taxes are adding to the pressure on the family finances. The couple have a fixed-rate mortgage but are not looking forward to the time when it has